scholarly journals Brain–Heart Interaction During Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Machetanz ◽  
Levan Berelidze ◽  
Robert Guggenberger ◽  
Alireza Gharabaghi
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Gamma Band ◽  
Cortical Activation ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Beta Band ◽  
Rr Intervals

ObjectivesTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) modulates brain activity and heart function. The induced parasympathetic predominance leads to an increase of heart rate variability (HRV). Knowledge on the corresponding cortical activation pattern is, however, scarce. We hypothesized taVNS-induced HRV increases to be related to modulation of cortical activity that regulates the autonomic outflow to the heart.Materials and MethodsIn thirteen healthy subjects, we simultaneously recorded 64-channel electroencephalography and electrocardiography during taVNS. Two taVNS stimulation targets were investigated, i.e., the cymba conchae and inner tragus, and compared to active control stimulation in the anatomical vicinity, i.e., at the crus helicis and outer tragus. We used intermitted stimulation bursts of 25 Hz applied at a periodicity of 1 Hz. HRV was estimated with different time-domain methodologies: standard deviation of RR (SDNN), the root mean squares of successive differences (RMSSD), the percentage of RR-intervals with at least 50 ms deviation from the preceding RR-interval (pNN50), and the difference of consecutive RR intervals weighted by their mean (rrHRV).ResultsThe stimulation-induced HRV increases corresponded to frequency-specific oscillatory modulation of different cortical areas. All stimulation targets induced power modulations that were proportional to the HRV elevation. The most prominent changes that corresponded to HRV increases across all parameters and stimulation locations were frontal elevations in the theta-band. In the delta-band, there were frontal increases (RMSSD, pNN50, rrHRV, SDNN) and decreases (SDNN) across stimulation sites. In higher frequencies, there was a more divers activity pattern: Outer tragus/crus helicis stimulation increased oscillatory activity with the most prominent changes for the SDNN in frontal (alpha-band, beta-band) and fronto-parietal (gamma-band) areas. During inner tragus/cymba conchae stimulation the predominant pattern was a distributed power decrease, particularly in the fronto-parietal gamma-band.ConclusionNeuro–cardiac interactions can be modulated by electrical stimulation at different auricular locations. Increased HRV during stimulation is correlated with frequency-specific increases and decreases of oscillatory activity in different brain areas. When applying specific HRV measures, cortical patterns related to parasympathetic (RMSSD, pNN50, rrHRV) and sympathetic (SDNN) modulation can be identified. Thus, cortical oscillations may be used to define stimulation locations and parameters for research and therapeutic purposes.

scholarly journals Cortical responses to vagus nerve stimulation are modulated by ongoing oscillatory activity associated with different brain states in non-human primates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Rembado ◽  
David K. Su ◽  
Ariel Levari ◽  
Larry E. Shupe ◽  
Steve Perlmutter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Brain State ◽  
Cortical Areas ◽  
Cortical Responses ◽  
Brain States

AbstractVagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is tested as therapy for several brain disorders and as a means to modulate brain plasticity. Cortical effects of VNS, manifesting as vagal-evoked potentials (VEPs), are thought to arise from activation of ascending cholinergic and noradrenergic systems. However, it is unknown whether those effects are dependent on oscillatory brain activity underling different brain states. In 2 freely behaving macaque monkeys, we delivered trains of left cervical VNS, at different pulsing frequencies (5-300 Hz), while recording local field potentials (LFP) from sites in contralateral prefrontal, sensorimotor and parietal cortical areas, continuously over 11-16 hours. Different brain states were inferred from oscillatory components of LFPs and the presence of overt movement: active awake, resting awake, REM sleep and NREM sleep. VNS elicited VEPs comprising early (<70 ms), intermediate (70-250 ms) and late (>250 ms) components in all sampled cortical areas. The magnitude of only the intermediate and late components was modulated by brain state and pulsing frequency. These findings have implications for the role of ongoing brain activity in shaping cortical responses to peripheral stimuli, for the modulation of vagal interoceptive signaling by cortical states, and for the calibration of VNS therapies.

scholarly journals Modulation of memory performance and brain activity by non-invasive auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in a mouse model of intellectual disability disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1593-1594
Author(s):  
Cecilia Brambilla Pisoni ◽  
Emma Muñoz Moreno ◽  
Anna Vázquez Oliver ◽  
Rafael Maldonado Lopez ◽  
Antoni Ivorra Cano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation

scholarly journals Sympathetic Effect of Auricular Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Healthy Subjects: A Crossover Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing Vagally Mediated and Active Control Stimulation Using Microneurography

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaïs Gauthey ◽  
Sofia Morra ◽  
Philippe van de Borne ◽  
Denis Deriaz ◽  
Nathalie Maes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Active Control ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Sympathetic Activity ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Rr Intervals ◽  
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Introduction: Auricular low-level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (aLL-tVNS) has emerged as a promising technology for cardiac arrhythmia management but is still experimental. In this physiological study, we hypothesized that aLL-tVNS modulated the autonomic nervous balance through a reduction of sympathetic tone and an increase in heart rate variability (HRV). We investigated the muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) recorded by microneurography during vagally mediated aLL-tVNS and active control on healthy volunteers. Methods: In this crossover, double-blind controlled study, healthy men (N = 28; 27 ± 4 years old) were assigned to aLL-tVNS applied to cymba and lobe (active control) of the right ear. Each participant was randomly allocated to the three sequences (5 Hz, 20 Hz, and active control-5 Hz) during one session. MSNA signal was recorded at rest, during voluntarily apnea and aLL-tVNS. Sympathetic activity was expressed as: 1) number of bursts per minute (burst frequency, BF) and 2) MSNA activity calculated as BF x mean burst amplitude and expressed as changes from baseline (%). RR intervals, HRV parameters and sympathetic activity were analyzed during 5 min-baseline, 10 min-stimulation, and 10 min-recovery periods. Mixed regression models were performed to evaluate cymba-(5—20 Hz) effects on the parameters with stimulation. Results: During apnea and compared to baseline, BF and MSNA activity increased (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, respectively). No stimulation effect on RR intervals and HRV parameters were showed excepted a slightly increase of the LF/HF ratio with stimulation in the cymba-5Hz sequence (coef. ± SE: 0.76 ± 0.32%; p = 0.02). During stimulation, reductions from baseline in BF (Coef. ± SE: −4.8 ± 1.1, p &lt; 0.001) was observed but was not statistically different from that one in the active control. Reduction of MSNA activity was not significantly different between sequences. Conclusion: Acute right cymba aLL-tVNS did not induce any overall effects neither on heart rate, HRV nor MSNA variables on healthy subjects when compared to active control. Interestingly, these findings questioned the role of active controls in medical device clinical trials that implied subjective endpoints.

EEG Derived Brain Activity Reflects Treatment Response from Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Epilepsy

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (04) ◽  
pp. 1650048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Wostyn ◽  
Willeke Staljanssens ◽  
Leen De Taeye ◽  
Gregor Strobbe ◽  
Stefanie Gadeyne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Seizure Frequency ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
P300 Amplitude ◽  
Eeg Recordings ◽  
Patients With Epilepsy ◽  
The Brain

The mechanism of action of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is yet to be elucidated. To that end, the effects of VNS on the brain of epileptic patients were studied. Both when VNS was switched “On” and “Off”, the brain activity of responders (R, seizure frequency reduction of over 50%) was compared to the brain activity of nonresponders (NR, seizure frequency reduction of less than 50%). Using EEG recordings, a significant increase in P300 amplitude for R and a significant decrease in P300 amplitude for NR were found. We found biomarkers for checking the efficacy of VNS with accuracy up to 94%. The results show that P300 features recorded in nonmidline electrodes are better P300 biomarkers for VNS efficacy than P300 features recorded in midline electrodes. Using source localization and connectivity analyses, the activity of the limbic system, insula and orbitofrontal cortex was found to be dependent on VNS switched “On” versus “Off” or patient group (R versus NR). The results suggest an important role for these areas in the mechanism of action of VNS, although a larger patient study should be done to confirm the findings.

Effects of auricular vagus nerve stimulation on brain activity, cognitive parameters and well-being

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 526
Author(s):  
T. Polak ◽  
C. Stelzer ◽  
A. Katzorke ◽  
J.B.M. Zeller ◽  
M.J. Herrmann
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Well Being

Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Modulates Tinnitus-Related Beta- and Gamma-Band Activity

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. e76-e85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petteri Hyvärinen ◽  
Santeri Yrttiaho ◽  
Jarmo Lehtimäki ◽  
Risto J. Ilmoniemi ◽  
Antti Mäkitie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Gamma Band ◽  
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Gamma Band Activity ◽  
Band Activity

Heart function influenced by selective mid-cervical left vagus nerve stimulation in a human case study

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1041-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janez Rozman ◽  
Polona Pec̆lin ◽  
Ivan Knez̆evic̆ ◽  
Tomislav Mirkovic̆ ◽  
Borut Gers̆ak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Human Case ◽  
Left Vagus

scholarly journals Transcranial Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) and Ear-EEG: Potential for Closed-Loop Portable Non-invasive Brain Stimulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Ruhnau ◽  
Tino Zaehle
Keyword(s):  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Closed Loop System ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Current Task ◽  
A Current

No matter how hard we concentrate, our attention fluctuates – a fact that greatly affects our success in completing a current task. Here, we review work from two methods that, in a closed-loop manner, have the potential to ameliorate these fluctuations. Ear-EEG can measure electric brain activity from areas in or around the ear, using small and thus portable hardware. It has been shown to capture the state of attention with high temporal resolution. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) comes with the same advantages (small and light) and critically current research suggests that it is possible to influence ongoing brain activity that has been linked to attention. Following the review of current work on ear-EEG and taVNS we suggest that a combination of the two methods in a closed-loop system could serve as a potential application to modulate attention.

scholarly journals Aberrant fecal flora observed in guinea pigs with pressure overload is mitigated in animals receiving vagus nerve stimulation therapy

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (4) ◽  
pp. G754-G762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regenia B. Phillips Campbell ◽  
Michelle M. Duffourc ◽  
Robert V. Schoborg ◽  
Yanji Xu ◽  
Xinyi Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Vagus Nerve ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Vagus Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Fecal Flora ◽  
Gut Flora ◽  
Fecal Samples

Altered gut microbial diversity has been associated with several chronic disease states, including heart failure. Stimulation of the vagus nerve, which innervates the heart and abdominal organs, is proving to be an effective therapeutic in heart failure. We hypothesized that cervical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) could alter fecal flora and prevent aberrations observed in fecal samples from heart failure animals. To determine whether microbial abundances were altered by pressure overload (PO), leading to heart failure and VNS therapy, a VNS pulse generator was implanted with a stimulus lead on either the left or right vagus nerve before creation of PO by aortic constriction. Animals received intermittent, open-loop stimulation or sham treatment, and their heart function was monitored by echocardiography. Left ventricular end-systolic and diastolic volumes, as well as cardiac output, were impaired in PO animals compared with baseline. VNS mitigated these effects. Metagenetic analysis was then performed using 16S rRNA sequencing to identify bacterial genera present in fecal samples. The abundance of 10 genera was significantly altered by PO, 8 of which were mitigated in animals receiving either left- or right-sided VNS. Metatranscriptomics analyses indicate that the abundance of genera that express genes associated with ATP-binding cassette transport and amino sugar/nitrogen metabolism was significantly changed following PO. These gut flora changes were not observed in PO animals subjected to VNS. These data suggest that VNS prevents aberrant gut flora following PO, which could contribute to its beneficial effects in heart failure patients.

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